arrive
verb (used without object)
to come to a certain point in the course of travel; reach one's destination.
had been arriving
-
past perfect progressiveof arrive.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She said swifts had been arriving in the UK looking for their nests and she had seen more than 30 swifts flying above the building site.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
Harold Estimable, director of the national migration office in Ouanaminthe, said some 250 to 300 Haitians had been arriving daily from the Dominican Republic in "very bad shape."
From Reuters ● Sep. 14, 2023
Families had been arriving at the sports complexes and government offices set up as temporary shelters since late Saturday, officials reported.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2023
After getting emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration just days earlier, the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccines had been arriving at hospitals for high-risk health care workers.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 27, 2021
June 4 was fixed for celebrating the King's birthday, and for several days before this event the coaches had been arriving in London loaded with passengers from all parts of the country.
From Story-Lives of Great Musicians by Francis Jameson Rowbotham
